Damaging winds expected to hit NSW

A cold front is expected to bring damaging 100-kilometre winds across NSW on the first day of the official storm season.

However the warning has also raised fire concerns with total bans in place in some parts of the state.

Gusts of up to 100km/h and average winds of 65km/h are expected for metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra, the south coast, the southern tablelands, central tablelands, the Snowy Mountains and Australia Capital Territory districts around midday on Tuesday.

In the alpine peaks, winds may average up to 85km/h and gusts up to 130km/h.

Blizzard conditions are expected for Snowy Mountain areas above 1500 metres from the middle of the day with winds easing in the evening.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Chris Webb said some parts of the state could also experience thunder storms.

“It’s quite likely there’ll be some isolated thunderstorms in the north-east of the state,” he told AAP.

“There’s a small risk of a thunderstorm in Sydney also but it’s much more uncertain.”

Total fire bans have been issued for the greater Hunter, northern slopes and north western areas.

Inspector Ben Shepard from the NSW Rural Fire Service said some of the wind warnings were for areas outside those under total fire bans.

“We just need the public to be vigilant, be very careful for the use of fire outside those total fire ban areas,” he said.